The road reaches Machha Khola: how the Manaslu Circuit start has changed for 2026

The Manaslu Circuit has long been sold as the wilder, quieter alternative to the Annapurna Circuit — and it still is. But the way you reach it is changing fast, and trekkers planning a 2026 departure should know where the road now ends and the walking begins. The short version: the jeep road has pushed deep into the lower valley, Machha Khola has become the practical starting point, and even the high villages now have a mobile signal.

Where the road ends now

For years, trekkers started walking from Soti Khola. That section is now largely a jeep track. As of 2026, the road from Kathmandu via Arughat is concrete and smooth to Arughat, then continues to Machha Khola, which most operators now use as the practical trailhead. Beyond it, jeeps can push on toward Jagat and Pangsing in dry conditions — Jagat being the first official checkpoint for the Manaslu restricted-area permit, so your paperwork must be in order before you arrive.

The trade-off

This is the eternal Himalayan bargain. The road shortens the hot, low-altitude slog through the first day or two, which many trekkers happily skip — you start higher and spend your energy on the spectacular upper valley. But it also chips away at the sense of remoteness that made Manaslu special, and the dust and jeeps in the lower sections are not what anyone pictures. The good news is that the heart of the trek — from the restricted area up through Namrung, Samagaon, Samdo and over the Larkya La pass at 5,106m — remains a walking world, gloriously untouched by road.

Connected, even up high

One genuinely useful change: 4G coverage has reached Samagaon and other iconic villages. For trekkers that means easier check-ins home, live weather checks before the Larkya La, and — most importantly — faster communication in an emergency. It is a small comfort that meaningfully improves safety on a remote, high-altitude circuit.

Manaslu in 2026 is a trek in transition: easier to reach, better connected, but still crowned by one of the most magnificent high passes in Nepal. Get there before the road climbs any higher.

Source: Recreation Holidays trail report; Manaslu Treks & Expedition.

Cover photo: Samdesherpa via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).